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FIRM PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

— avoiding a busy-season surge — would mean
redesigning the work of the firm itself.
To that end, Lance focused on recruiting clients
seeking client advisory services alongside the firm’s
tax work. The goal was to find work that would
repeat on a monthly, not yearly, basis.
“[We’re] a firm that’s working with our client
throughout the year, and [we’re] having a deeper
relationship as a result,” he said. “We’re avoiding the
surges that happen with tax season.”
The firm still does plenty of returns, but only
for clients who engage in other year-round work. It
specializes in two niches: craft breweries and digital
marketing agencies.
Lance knows this type of overhaul isn’t feasible
for every firm’s portfolio, but he suggested that
leaders can do more to control their workflow.
Rather than seeing themselves only as practitioners
who will do whatever the client wants, he said,
leaders should realize that they are business owners
with the power to change how their organization
operates.
And, indeed, that’s a message firms of all stripes
are taking up.

REARRANGING THE SCHEDULE
AICPA RESOURCES To reduce the stress and chaos of busy season,
many firms are taking a more active hand in
Articles managing their tax clients.
“5 Steps to Managing Client Expectations,” JofA, May 13, 2022 Often, they’re encouraging clients to either
“Manage a Stressful Workload With Meditation,” CPA Insider, April 19, 2021 submit information early or file on extension. That
allows them to complete more work in early winter,
Podcast episodes late spring, and beyond — instead of grinding
“Burnout’s Telltale Signs and How Leaders Can Better Understand Them,” through all returns in a limited period.
JofA, May 19, 2022 “We communicate early and often that it’s
“Why the Busy Season Debrief Has Value, and Why It’s Not Just for Tax only the earliest of the early birds who can expect
Teams,” JofA, May 17, 2022 their returns completed by April 15,” said Rodney
Chandler, CPA, a partner at Smith Adcock, a firm

IN BRIEF

■ To reduce high-hour workweeks ■ To control workflow, some firms submit information early or file on
during busy season, firms are using carefully select clients who need year- extension. Others ease employees’
new time-tracking tools to help round accounting services in addition workloads by investing in basic
employees get more done in less time; to tax return services. automation to scan forms and populate
finding new ways to distribute work ■ To reduce the stress and chaos of busy databases.
among employees; and minimizing season, many firms are taking a more ■ Even firms that have made headway
the seasonal surge by spreading work active hand in managing their tax still see a long road ahead. But when
throughout the year. clients, encouraging clients to either relief arrives, it is welcome.
To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Courtney L. Vien at Courtney.Vien@aicpa-cima.com.

8 | Journal of Accountancy October 2022